Fireproof record desk



` 4sheets-sheet 1 d2 '4T-3 ll/Z 'lll' D. E. HUNTER June' 26, 1934.

FIREPRooFvREcoRD DESK Filed oct. 16. 1 933 June 26, 1934. D. E. HUNTER 1,964,578

FIREPROOF RECORD DESK l Filed oct. 16, 1953 -4 Sheets-sheet 2 -7 29 W -WS n June 26, 1934. D. E. HUNTER 1,964,578

FIREPRooF RECORD DESK Filed oct. 16. 1953 4 sheets-sheet I5 Y Jawa/CYD f /fr um .7 f4.

MIHWWIIWH. i

June 26, 1934. D, E, HUNTER 1,964,578

FIHEPROOF RECORD DESK Filed oct. 1e, 193s 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented June 26, 1934 FIREPROOF RECQRD DESK David E, Hunter, Muskegon, Mich.,y assignox'A to The Shaw-Walker Company, Muskegon, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 16, 1933, Serial No. 693,748

1s claims.' (o1. aros-2) So far as the heat insulated structure of they presentdesk is concerned, it diiers not a great deal from safes and cabinets having the same fireproof properties, in that the walls surrounding theqcontents-holding space consist of relatively thick layers of insulation included between sheet metal, the insulation being an initially plastic substance which hardens after being poured into the space between the metallic walls. It diiers,-how ever, in its design from the ordinary insulated cabinet or safe, as well as from the usual style, of desk, in that the record space is elevated to counter height so that the contents are accessible from a standing position. Again, the record space is rather shallow in depth, narrow from front to rear and elongated from end to end. And finally the record space is capable of being closed over by a dome-like arched cover or curtain hung to swing in an arcuate path from open to closed position. This cover being of an insulated construction, is quite heavy, and when swung forwardly to closed position in much the saine manner as a roll-top desk is closed. its forward edge 'abuts in tight sealing contact with the edge of the front wall of 0 the desk, whereupon it may be locked by the usual arrangement of key lock.

Heretofore these desks have been constructed with the arched cover hung to swing about xed pivot points into open and closed position, depending on the weight of the cover alone to hold it in closed position, and the manipulation of the key lock to prevent-the unauthorized opening. It' has since developed, however, that this arrangement did not afford complete protection in the event of fire, inasmuch as even the locking of the desk was insufficient to preserve the contents because the seal between the cover and thelwalls wasA not tight enough to prevent the heat from reaching the interior of the contents space. Again, the previous construction did not provide complte protection under circumstances that did not aord suiiicient time to both close and lock the cover,'as for example in the case of a sudden conilagration or explosion. I'hus one of the objects of the present invention is to overcome this defect by so mounting the cover that by merely closing the desk cover a tight protective seal vis .automatically established to prevent heat reachnecessary, should the circumstances require, for a person to close the desk, and the same degree of protection against fire is aiiorded as if there had been plenty of time to close and lock the desk.

Moreover, the weight of the cover is consider- 64? able, as heretofore explained, and hence another obj ect of the present invention is to provide mechanism for properly counter-balancing the same, not only for the purpose of facilitating the operation of opening and closing the cover, but also 66 to regulate its action so that the sealing contact will be completed automatically, once the closing movement has been initiated.

Other improvements and novel features of the desk will be disclosed in the description to follow, 'l0 and in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe desk in open position.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section through 76 the desk as taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

` Figure 3 is an enlarged` view in vertical section through the upper portion of the desk as taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical 80 section through one end oi' the desk as taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical cross section through the desk as taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the position of the parts with the 85 cover in open position.

VFigure 6 is a view duplicating the cover-controlling mechanism oi Figure 5 in the partially closed position of the cover as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view'similar to Figure 5 with the 90 cover in completed closed and sealed position.

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical section y taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a like detail view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7, and

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the eccentric lever of the cover-supporting assembly.

In its general aspects the desk may be said to consist of a shallow elongated insulated tray 1 mounted within the upper portion of a sheet metal pedestal-like structure made up of two end sections 2, 2, and'outer front and rear wallscdq' tions 3, 3, and an arched cover 4 adapted to swigover the tray-and enclose the space immedia 'f I above it. The end sections are enclosed to pro'- 106 vide narrow housings for the cover-controlling mechanism, and to the rear and below the cover is a longitudinal housing which conceals the cover when in its open position. The pedestal or frame which supports the insulated tray 1 and cover 2 110 fifiV is assembled in manner common to metal oillce furniture and like equipment. In other respects, the desk is constructed in a Workmanlike manner and in accordance with the usual practice in metal working and, therefore, mere structural details will be omitted from the description except perhaps to locate them with relation to the more essential parts.

Referring to the tray 1 (Figures 2 and 3), the same has the form of a shallow open container having bottom, front, rear and end walls of an insulated construction throughout and cast as a unit consisting of a core c of a suitable insulating material such as a calcined gypsum product centrally reinforced by wire mesh m and surrounded entirely or in part by metal sheets s. The walls of the tray are thus of a thickness of an inch or more, and capable of withstanding exceedingly high temperatures. If desired, however, sections of the core may be left uncovered, particularly where the surfaces are not exposed or subject to impacts in service. In any event, no particular feature of the insulated tray, as well as the cover construction, need be here further explained, as the same general practice is followed as has heretofore been employed in the construction of insulated safes and cabinets. Hence there is nothing particularly unusual in the construction of the tray, except perhaps as to the contour of its rear and end walls. The rear wall 1* is extended somewhat higher than the front wall 1b and has a generally convex contour to conform. to the arched contour of the cover, as will be presently seen, and the end walls 1, 1 are even higher than the rear wall, their upper edges having arched or rounded contour continuing the line of convexity of the rear wall and likewise conforming to the curvature or the cover.

The tray is supported at each end by the end sections 2, 2, each consisting (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) of a solid outer wall 2.having a U- shaped marginal bead 2h at its edge. However,

' site directions to provide a pair of spaced parallel vertical flanges 5b, 5b.

Now, extending transversely of the wide vertical slot or housing formed by this supporting plate 5 are three cross bars or plates 6, 'I and 8 welded at their ends to the flanges 5b, 5b and spaced apart vertically at the required intervals to suD- port the various parts of the operating mechanism beyond the ends of the tray. It is on the central or intermediate cross bar 7 that the tra! is supported, it being noted that along the lower transverse corner edges of the tray are securedA this shelf passing just above the cards and provided with rollers 11* which engage tracks 11" secured along the upper inside edges of the front and rear walls of the tray (Figure 3).

The cover or curtain 4 is arcuate in form, some thing less than a Senn-circle in extent. Structurally it is similar to the tray except that the insulating core is entirely enclosed in a metallic shell. The cover, moreover, is of a uniform thickness except along its forward edge, where it is increased in thickness to provide an offset rib 4*. One or more handles 12 are mounted along this thickened front edge for convenience in operating the cover, while the front edge face of the cover is recessed throughout its length and centrally, as at 4b,it being observed that-the upper edge of the front wall 1h of the tray 1 is similarly recessed as at 1d, so that when these two edges are brought together, contact will take place along zig-zag or broken surfaces, and not along plane surfaces, the purpose being to thus provide a tighter sealing contact against the passage of the heat therebetween.

The path of the cover 4 in being swung from open to closed position, is generally defined by the arcuate line of the top edges of the side walls 1 of the tray 1 and the curved face of the rear wall. the actual movement being approximately 90 between the extreme positions. 'Ihus in closed position (Figure '1) the cover extends from the 105 top edge of the frontwall to a point beyond the edge of the rear wall, so that there isa substantial overlappins at the rear of the tray, and when in open position (Figure 5) the front edge is approximately above the center of the tray, and its rear edge is carried downwardly into the space below and at the rear of the tray, this space being preferably enclosed by wall sections 3*, 3* which with the rear wall 3 provides a housing for the cover. 'Ihus the cover does not completely dis- 115 appear from view when in open position, but rather uncovers about one-half of the space above the tray.

Now, the cover 4 projects a short distance ateach end beyond the end walls 1 of the tray i 120 as shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9, the projecting end portion being* increased in thickness toprovidef marginal rabbets 4 on the inner edge'faces of the cover overlapping the edges of the tray. At the extreme ends of the cover vand secured flatwise at its end face are curved end plates 13,v 13 having portions extending inwardly beyond the inner face thereof to provide flanges to which are bolted the radially extending arms 14, 14 which support the cover at each end upon its fulcrum points. These arms are extended at their outer ends to provide elongated marginal arcuate flanges which are bolted at several points to the end'i'langes 13 of the cover throughout the forward half sections. Moreover, these arms are located within the space included by the end wall sections 2, 2 and outwardly beyond the end walls of the tray and oscillating back and forth with the cover.

It might be assumed that these arms are fulcrumed at their inner nds on fixed beatings mounted at'the center of the arc traversed by the cover in its swinging movement, but in this construction the cover is mounted so that the axis of its movement is capable of beim shifted slightly to insure the automatic sealing contact between the cover and the tray when the former is closed.

A discussion of the journalling of the cover follows: At the inner or free end of each supportingarmuisahubportionuhavingarelatively l about to an imaginary horizontal line passing large bore which is journalled on an annular bearing 15EL of an eccentric lever 15 (Figure 10), which in turn is journalled on a bearing pin 16 anchored at one end in the outer wall of the pedestal housing, and at its other end in the upper cross bar 8 (Figures 4 and 5). The axis of rotation of the eccentric lever 15 on the pivot pin 16, however, is not concentric wth the axis of the bearing 15 on which the supporting arm 14 is fulcrumed, but rather these axes or centers of rotation are slightly eccentric to each other, so that while the cover is primarily supported on the fixed pivot pins 16, 16 in its swinging movement, its true axis Vis oiset from these xed centers, with the result that the cover traverses a path slightly eccentric to the arc defined by the top edges of the container in its movement toward and from closed position.

At this point it may be well to compare the relative positions of the supporting arms 14, the eccentric lever 15 and their respective axes of rotation in the open and closed positions of the cover, as shown in Figures l5 and 7. In the open position, the lever 15 which is only about one-third the length of the supporting arm 14, extends in a generally forwardly direction, but inclined upwardly so that its center line assumes an angle of through the axis of the pivot pin 16, and that the center line also passes through the center of rotal tion of the arm 14 about its fulcrum (marked f) Now, in the closed position/of the cover (Figure 7) the supporting arm has travelled forwardly through, say, '90, whereas the lever 15 has been shifted downwardly through an arc of about 30, carrying with it the fulcrum point f of the cover through the same angle, but since the eccentricity of the two centers is relatively small, the actual displacement or shifting of the fulcrum point j is correspondingly small. Thus in moving from its open toward its closed position, the cover follows a path slightly eccentric to the arc defined by the top edgesy of the container, so that it swings free of sliding contact therewith as shown in Figure 8.

Now, when the cover reaches the position just in advance of fully closed position (Figures 3 and 6), the eccentric levers 15, 15 are shifted automatically in a downward direction into a substantially horizontal position. as shown in Figure 7, so that the fulcrum point f is now shifted to a point just below the imaginary horizontal axis through the center of the fixed bearing 16, with the result that the cover is dropped bodily and downwardly, thus bringing its front edge into sealing contact with the top edge of the front wall, and likewise its end and rear edges into close contact (as shown in Figures 7 and 9), with the corresponding edges of the tray. 'I'his shifting of the levers 15, 15 to bring about the displacement of the cover just described is accomplished automatically by mechanism presently to be described, to the end that the cover swings freely' under its own weight into closed position with ample sealing' contact to exclude the entrance of heat between the joints. t

Thus it will be noted that merely by pulling the cover forwardly and downwardly, the weight of the cover alone causes the cover to close in sealing contact with the tray, and equally important is the fact that once the desk is closed, the cover has to be initially displaced from its sealed contact with the container, so that even though the desk has not been key-locked, the contents are protected against lire hazard.

The mechanism for actuating `the eccentric levers 15, 15 is preferably located within the housing section 2 at the left end and Just within its front wall (Figure 1), and comprises the following parts: A release lever proper 17 is mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 18 and having a straight arm17 passing through a vertical slot 19 in the front edge wall of the housing and carrying at its ends an exterior operating knob. Another arm 17h of` .ne lever extends inwardly from the pivot pin 18 throughv a slot in the web 5* of the plate 5, and is operatively connected with the end of the eccentric lever 15 by Ameans of. a vertical link A20. Depending from the release lever 17 and from apoint immediately below the pivot pin 18 is a third lever arm 15 having a gravity pawl 21 pivotally mounted at its lower end. Below the release lever is a bell crank lever 22 pivoted on a pin 23 forwardly oit the pawl-carrying arm of the release lever, and having a horizontal arm 22l terminating just below the pawl in a dog 22b adapted in the depressed position of the release lever to be engaged by the pawl and hold it in that position by the tension of a spring 24 connecting the other and depending arm 22c of the bell 'crank lever with a fixed point of the housing.

Also pivotally mounted at the end of the horlzontal arm 22l of the bell crank lever 22 is a llat trip bar 25 extending vertically upwardly in fiatwise contact with the inner face vertical transverse web 5a at the front edge of the supporting plate 5, said web being slotted at that point. This trip bar extends upwardly on one side of the release lever 17 terminating some distance above it,

and connected to its upper end is a coil spring 26 anchored at a xed point horizontally removed from the point of attachment with the bar and' acting to normally hold it in vertical position and iiatwise against said vertical web 5a of the supporting plate 5.

On the adjacent cover supporting arm 14 is a trip bar actuating lug 27 in the form of a short fiat-ended inger curving downwardly from a point midway between the ends of the lever and in a position to strike against the upper end of Figure 5.--"This movement of the release leverA acts through the connecting link 20 on the eccentric lever, throwing the latter upwardly to the other limit of its swinging movement, thereby lifting the cover bodily by the slight shifting of its fulcrum point, this movement being suiiicient to relieve the pressure of the cover 4 againstthe edges of the tray and'allow it to be swung freely into its open position. But also in the act of pressing down the releaselever, the pawl 21 engages the dog 22h on the bell crank lever 22,.

with the result that the release lever is held in its depressed position, to remain so until it is automatically released by the subsequent closing of the cover acting through the trip bar 25.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be noted that in the completely closed position of the cover, the trip bar 25 is pressed inwardly a'nd out of the path of the lug 27 on the cover-supporting lever 1 14 through the action of a short finger 28 formed integral with the release lever and projecting therefrom adjacent the pivot pin 18 toward and into contact with the trip bar near its upper end. Thus, in the depression of the release lever this finger 28 is retracted, thereby allowing the trip bar to be swung forwardly under the tension of its spring 26 to its normal vertical position, the lug at the same time being raised with the slight vertical displacement of the cover so that it clears the upper end of the trip bar, which is now in readiness to function when the cover is closed. Now, on closing the cover, the lug 27 strikes the upper end of the trip bar just before the front edge of the cover meets the edge of the tray. that is, when the parts' are in the positions shown in Figure 6, and this striking of the trip bar causes it to be forced downwardly, thereby depressingthe bell crank lever 22 suillciently to cause the dog 22h to release the pawl 2l on the release lever, and the weight of the covei' together with the force exerted through thecounterbalancing device yet to be described, not only causes the cover to completely close in sealing contact with the tray, but simultaneously throws the release lever upwardly into lits raised position, by reason of its connection with the cover through the link and eccentric lever 15. Thus the release lever is returned to .its orignal position -for the next cover releasing and opening operation.

inasmuch as the same arrangement of parts for supporting the cover 14 is employed at each end of the desk, whereas the release lever-mechanism is operatively connected with the eccentric lever 15 at one end only, it follows that some means of cross connecting the one with the other must be provided. This is accomplished by means of a simple arrangement of crank shaft andlinksa'sshowninFiguresand'l. Extending horizontally of the desk below the tray l isashaft29journalledateachendinabearingplate 29securedtothecrossbars6and7 of the end supporting structure, each end of the shaft projecting through and beyond the bearing plate and having a crank arm 30 keyed thereon-.1 Each crank arm 30 has a link 31-con necting its end with the'. eccentric lever 15 immediately above it at #point inwardly from its outer end as at 32. Thus the movement of the left-hand eccentric lever 15 is transmitted to the right-hand lever, so that both cover-supporting assemblies function in unison. 1

Referring now to the cover counter-balancing devices, itwill be recalled that the insulated construction of the cover makes it` unusually massive andK heavy, weighing in the' neighborhood of 250 pounds, and hence the necessity for counter-balancing this weight. As the cover is supported, it is manifest that there is a position in its movement in which it will be perfectly balanced over its fulcrum points, but as it is shifted to one side or the other it becomes overbalanced. 'Ihus in the closing of the cover, it follows that the physical effort n to over- -come the inertia of this mass would be considerable without the application of some counteractive force, and likewise `after the cover has passed over the balancing point, an opposing forceis essential to prevent the cover from dropping suddenly into closed position .by the action of gravity. At the same time it isV by virtue of the dover-balancing of the" cover `in a forward direction that the automatic closing and al. `ling is so that any counter-balancing the weight of-a swinging body :,upon its fulcrum,

as will now be seen.

Complementary counter-balancing devices are mounted at each end of the desk and are located' in the housings formed in the'end sections, and act through auxiliary lever arms integral with the cover-supporting arms 14, 14. Considering one of these devices, it consists primarily of a spring tension telescoping assembly anchoredat its lower end at the base of the section 2, and at its upper end pivotally connected to a short lever arm 33 extending almost vertically downward from the hub of the cover-supporting arm 14. As actually constructed, however, this assembly consists of parts as follows (Figures 5 and 7): Connected with the lever arm 334 on the cover-supporting arm is a T-shaped cross head 34. the main branch 34 of the T being in line with the direction of the force to be applied,- whereas the cross branches 34D, 34h extend laterally from the center line and providethe connections for the upper ends of two pairs of coil springs 35,-one pair on each side. Socketed at the junction of the lateral arms 34h, 34b of the cross head and extending downwardly in line with the main branch 34*` is a tub lar shaft 36 having telescopic slidingl engagement with a solid rod 37 extending downwardly to the base of the end section where' it. passes through a pivot block 38 having pins 38` journalledin suitable bearing plates 39 secured in the base of the end section, and carries a nut 37 at its lower en'd. Thus, the rod 37 is free to slide endwise as well as rotate in the pivot block 38 while the latter is free to oscillate about a horizontal axis from front to rear (Figure 4). Threaded on the shaft 37 approximately midway of its ends is another cross head 40, the counterpart of the upper cross head` 34, and having lateral branches to which the lower ends of the springs 35 are anchored. This lower cross head isr adjustable lengthwise of the rod for the purpose of varying the=u tension of the spring, the adjustmentbeing effected by rotating the shaft 37 in one direction or the other, after loosening a lock nut 41 which normally locks the cross head and rod against relative rotation, this being accomplished by inserting a suitable mandrel in a transverse bore 37b through the shaft above the lcross head. And finally just above the lock nut 41 holding the lower cross head in place is a spacing collar 42.

A Now it will be observed from Figure 7 that in the fully closed position of the cover the tubular shaft 36 forming a part of the extensibly movable part ,of the counter-balancing device abuts at its lower and free end against thespacing collar 42 to the end that the springs exert no force upon the cover and hence the counter-balancing effect is removed or rendered inoperative. As a matter .of fact, however, this abutting contact between the tubular rod and collar takes placejust as the cover reaches the position immediately in advance of the nal closing and sealing movement, as shown in Figure 6, with the result that the weight of the cover due to its over-balancing static condition and sudden freedom from any ation. However. upon the releasing of the cover by the depressing of the release lever 15 and at the commencement of the operation of swinging back the cover, the telescoping yrod and shaft of the counter-balancing device begin to extend against the tension of its springs, and this force exertedon the cover-supporting arms 14 through its lever arms 33, gradually increases in proportion to the increase in the static moment tending to over-balance the cover in a rearward direction, with the result'that the'cover can be opened with a minimum of effort and its movement over its balanced or dead center position in either opening or closing the cover is smooth and uri-- accelerated. In-short, the counter-balancing devices by reason of their construction and adjustability are capable of exerting the desired degree of counter effort to the static moment of the cover in all positions, but without interfering with the automatic closing and sealing action.

As a consequence, therefore, of the several new and novel features of construction and design embodied in the present disclosure, a materially improved desk is obtainable not only from the standpoint of ease and' convenience in operation, but equally important from the standpointof protection from fire hazard and the readiness with which this protection can be made complete, even in the presence of a sudden disaster which makes it impossible to take the same precaution as would attend the leisurely closing and locking of a desk against unauthorized entry. And having set forth the construction and described the manner in which the several mechanisms and devices cooperate to bring about thes novel results.

` I claim as my invention: u 1. In a desk of the character described, the combination of an open contents-holding container, a cover adapted to swing in an arcuate path to and from a closed position over said container in which the marginal portions of the cover have sealing contact with the edges of the container walls, said cover being journalled on bearings normally oset to the arc deiined by said edges of the container, means for automatically shifting the fulcrum of said co er during its movement from open to closed posit on whereby a tight sealing-contact is established with the container when the cover reaches its fully closed position. u

2. In a desk of the character described, the combination of an open heat-insulated container, a cover of heat-insulated construction mounted to swing in an arcuate path to and from closed position over said container, the topv edges of said container conforming to a. predetermined arc, said cover being journalled on shiftable fulcrums having its centers normally eccentric to the center of said arc whereby the cover is spaced from the edges of the container in its movement matically releasing said cover from its sealing contact with said container opening movement. v l' .A

3. In a desk of the character described, the

in advance of its combination of an open heat-insulated contentscontaineryla cover, of heat-insulated construction and arcuate cross sectional contour mounted forming to the arcuate conformation of said cover, said cover being journalled on bearings eccentric with respect to the center of the arc defined by the top edges of said container whereby the cover traverses a path eccentric to said arc in its movement to and from closed position, y the eccentricity being sufficient to effect a tight sealing contact between the cover and the edges of the container in the closed position? and means for shifting the centers of the cover `iournal bearings to effect the release of the cover in advance of its opening movement.

4. In a desk of the character described, the combinationl of an open contents-holding container having the tcp edges of its vertical walls conforming to an arc, a cover extending lengthwise of said container and having a sectional contour conforming to the same arc as thatof the edges of the container, said cover being journalled on bearings to swing to and from closed position over said container, the centers of said bearings being slightly Aoffset from the center of said arc whereby the cover is displaced from contact with the container throughout'its swinging movement toward and from closed position and into sealing contact therewith in closed position, and means for shifting the centers of said cover journal bearings in advance of the closing of said cover to maintain its sealing contact with the container while in closed position, and means for automatically releasing the cover from its sealing contact in advance of its opening movement.

5. In a desk of the character described, the f combination of an open contents-holding con- -tainer having the top edges of its vertical walls conforming to an arc of predetermined radius, a cover extending lengthwise of said container and having` a sectional contour conforming to the arc defined by the said edges of the container, said cover being adapted to swing to and from vclosed position over said container and having radial supporting arms at each end, lever arms pivotalLv mounted on fixed centers offset from the center of the arc defining the edges of the container and having eccentric bearings on which y said supporting arms are `journalled, whereby said cover is spaced from the edges of the container in its movement toward and from closed position, and means for automatically shifting said last mentioned lever armin advance of the nal closing'movement of said cover whereby the centers of its journal bearings are shifted in a direction to bring the cover into tight sealing engagement with the container.

6. In a desk of the character described, the combination of an o pen contents-holding container having the top edges of its vertical walls conforming to anA arc, a cover extending lengthwise of said container and having a sectional contour conforming to the arc defined by the said edges of the container, said cover being adapted to swing to and from closed position over said container and having radial supporting arms at each 4end, lever arms pivotallymounted on ilxed 140 bearings and rovided with bearing members on which said co er-supporting arms are journalled, the centers of said bearing members being eccentric'to the centers of said fixed bearings whereby said cover is spaced 'from the edges of 145 the container in its movement toward land from closed position, permitting it to close automati cally under its own weightfa release level operatively connected with said eccentric bearing levers and adapted to be shifted manually in one it in the other direction to effect a -cori'esponding shifting of said levers through a predetermined arc, means for holding said release lever in the extreme position of its manual shifting movement, and'means actuated by contact with said cover inits closing movement to trip said release lever holding means whereby thecover bearings are shifted to effect a tight sealing contact between the cover and the edgesof the con tainer. i

7. In a desk of the character described, the combination of a contents container having an arcuate shaped cover extending longitudinally of said container and fulcrumed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over saidv container with its frward edge in abutting contact with the corresponding edge thereof, :said container and cover being of a relatively massive heat-insulated construction, said cover having radial supporting arms at its ends journalled on shiftable bearings having their centers oiset from the center of the arc definedby the edges of the container whereby the same is shiftable toward and from closing position in spaced relation to the containen, means for shifting the cover journai'bearings in advance ofthe final closing movei'nent whereby a tight sealing contact is effected between the cover and the edges of the container in closed position, and mechaw nism forautomatically shifting the journal bearings to their normalpositions in advance of the cover opening movement.

8. In-a desk o'f the character described, the combination of a contents container having an arcuate shaped cover extending longitudinally of said container and fulcrumed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over said container with its forward edge in abutting cohtact with the corresponding edge thereof, said container and cover being of a relatively massive heat-insulatd construction, said cover having radial supporting arms pivotally mounted on ixedfbearings and provided with eccentric bearings on which said supporting arms are journailed, a release lever operatively connected with 'said lever arms and adapted to be shifted man? ually in one direction and having `a spring for shifting it in the opposite direction, a spring actuated dog adapted to engage a pawl on said release lever to hold the same in its manually shifted position, and a trip member carried by said dog and actuated by contact with a iug on said cover to automatically tripsaid ldog' and rele'ase said release lever in advance-ofthe flnal closing movement of the cover for the purpose described.

9. In a desk of the character described, the combination of an open heat-insulated contents container, a cover of heat-insulated construction fulcrumed to swings in an' arcuate path to and from closed position over said container, the top edges of said container conforming 'to the arc defined by said cover in its closed position, said cover`being journalled on bearings onset from operative^to shift the center of saidcver journal bearings immediately in advance ,i of the nal I closing of said cover wherebya. tight sealing contact is established between the cover and the' edges of-fthe container in fully closed position,

1,984,578 direction and having tension means for shifting and devices for counter-balancing the weight of said cover in its unbalanced positions.

10. In a Ydesk of the character described, 'the combination of a contents container having an arcuate shaped cover extending longitudinally of said' container and fulcrumed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over said container with its\forward edge in abutting contact with thel corresponding edge thereof, said container and cover being of a relatively massive heat-insulated construction, and means for controlling the movement of said cover, comprising lever arms pivotally mounted in xed bearings adjacent to but offset from the center of the arc traversed by said cover and provided with journal bearings for said cover eccentric with respect to the ilxed bearings, whereby a tight sealing contact is established between the cover and the edges of the container as the former approaches its closed position, and cover counter-balancing devices acting to counteract the weight of said cover in its unbalanced positions, and including tension springs operatively connected therewith adjacent its fulcrum Apoints, and means for controlling the tension exerted by said springs in predetermined positions of said cover.

l1. In a desk of the character described, the combination of a contents container having an arcuate shaped cover extending longitudinally of said container and fulcriimed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over said container withits forward edge in abutting contact 'with the corresponding edge thereof, said container and cover being of a relatively'massive heat-insulated construction, and means for .controlling the movement of said cover, comprising lever arms pivotally mounted in iixed bearingsadjacent to but offset from the cennected at one end to said cover adjacent its ful.-

crum points and anchored at a fixed point at its other end', and tension springs opposing the extension of said telescoping members, the latter being provided with stop members acting to relieve the tension exerted on said cover by said,

springs in a predetermined position thereof.

12. In a desk of the charactefdescribed, the combination of an open contents-holding container having the top edges of its vertical walls conforming'to an arc, a cover extending lengthwise of said container" and having a sectional contour conforming to the arc deilned by the said edges of th container, said cover being journalled on bearings to swing to and from closed position over said container, the centers of said bearings being offset from the center of said arc'whereby the cover is displaced from contact with the container throughout substantially its entire path of movement, means for shifting the centers of said cover journal bearingsin ad,

vance of the closing of said cover to bring-the same into .tight sealing contact with the top edges osaid container, and means forcounterbalancing the. cover in its unbalancecLpos'ition, comprising springs acting on said cover adjacent its journal bearings, and means for limiting-"the effective counter-balancing action of said spring combination of a contents container, an arcuate shaped cover fulcrumed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over Isaid container, said cover being of a relatively massive heat insulated construction, and means for controlling the movement of said cover, comprising counter-balancing devices acting to counteract the weight of said cover in its unbalanced positions including a group of parallel tension springs operatively connected at points offset from the fulcrum of said cover and acting in a direction to oppose the static moment of the cover in its unbalanced positions'and means acting` on said springs to limit its counteractive effort proportionably to 'the overbalanced conditionl of the cover.

14. In a desk of the character described, the combination of a contents container, an arcuate shaped cover of a relatively heavy heat-insulated construction extending longitudinally of said container and fulcrumed at its ends for movement from and to closed position over said container with its forward edge in abuttingcontact with the corresponding edge thereof, means for controlling the movement of said cover whereby the same swings freely on its fulcrums in its movement toward and from closed position and into close sealing contact 'with the container in closed position, and cover counter-bal-T ancing devices acting to counteract the weight of said cover in its unbalanced positions, including a pair of extensible telescoping members, one

connected to said cover adjacent its fulcrumpoint and the other anchored at a fixed point, a group of parallel coil springs extending between said telescoping members and acting to oppose the extension thereof, means for adjusting the tension exerted by said springs on said cover, and means for positively limiting the relative movement of said telescoping members in one direction whereby the Atension exerted by said springs is removed from said cover at a predetermined point in its closing movement.

15. In a desk or like article, the combination with a compartment having an opening deilnedby arcuate end edges, of a closure for said opening journalled to swing to and from closed position in an arcuate path normally offset from the arc of said compartment opening, and means operative at a predetermined position of 'said closure to shift the airis ofswinging movement of said closure and thereby effect a sealing contact between the same and the edges of the opening.

16. In a desk or like article having a compartment with an arcuate lopening defined by a predetermined curvature at the ,edges of the end walls of said compartment, the combination of a closure for said opening normally fulcrumed to swing in an arc in prolongation of the arc defined by said end walls, but slightly offset therefrom to permit its free swinging movement to and from closed position, and means operating automati cally in a predetermined position of. said closure to shift its fulcrum and thereby bring the same into contact with the edges of said walls in its closed position.

17. In a desk or like article having a compartment with an opening having straight horizontal edges and parallel end edges defined by the arc of a circle,'the combination of a cover fulcrumed to normally swing in an arcuate path to and from closed position over said opening free from contact with'the edges of said opening, and means for automatically shifting the fulcrum of said cover in advance of reaching its closed position to bring the same into sealingcontact with the edges of said opening.

i 18. In a desk or like article having a compartment with an arcuate opening dened by apreduring it's movement in one direction to autov matically shift the fulcrum thereof and thereby bring the same into sealing contact with the edges of said walls in its closed position.

DAVID E. HUNTER.

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